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Curiosity Insight

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Elfa Vs California Closets: Which One To Pick?

March 20, 2023 By Miranda Jackson 1 Comment

While choosing the best closet solution, experts suggest exploring Elfa vs California closets. The California closet has melamine composite material. It came up with the EverStyle drawer system and elaborated designs. Elfa closet comes up with epoxy-bonded steel material and a traditional drawer system. Also, it provides limited designs. 

About Elfa Closet

Elfa Closet
Elfa Closet

Elfa closet systems were launched in 1948. Arne Lydmar and his investment partners started this company in Sweden. It is one of the excellent storage solution companies. The brand is formerly known for organizing all your belongings in custom-made closets with chic shelves and drawers.

About California Closet

California Closet
California Closet

Neil Balter created this brand in 1978. He started the designer closet journey by customizing his friend’s closet and named the company Woodland Hills. The California closet team follows a 4-step process to give you a personalized experience. Designs are custom-made using the finest materials exported from Europe and the USA.

Elfa Vs California Closets: Quick Comparison Table

Specification Elfa Closets system California Closets System
Features
  • Offers plug-in shelving and drawer system
  • Provides customization assortment options
  • Comes up with resetting facilities for old closets
  • High flexibility and airy feel
  • Complete storage and space mechanism
  • Support to find retailers in neighborhood
  • 3D view of customized closets  
  • Better light and ventilation capacity
  • Provides Paxton and Virtuoso collections
  • Includes space-saving shelves and wardrobe system
  • Sophisticated storage styles and amplifying adjustable rack capacity 
  • Offers built-in lighting options
  • Includes organizers, dividers, trays, baskets, and adjustable bars 
  • Quality sourced and made with extraordinary hardware and closet door
  • Designed with Everstyle Drawer System
Product line
  • Shelves
  • Drawers
  • Clothing
  • Garage and storage
  • Laundry and cleaning
  • Hobby and home office
  • On-door storage
  • Custom closets
  • Rooms
  • Garage
  • Custom cabinet finishes
  • Closet organizations
  • Sliding closet doors
  • Shelving and countertops
  • Doors and drawers
Material
  • Epoxy-bonded steel
  • Solid wood
  • Laminated composite
  • Metal
  • Wood
  • Leather
Design Shelves
  • Wire shelf
  • Décor shelf
  • Bookshelf
  • Hallway
Drawer
  • Gliding wire
  • Décor mesh
Clothing
  • Gliding pant rack
  • Gliding shoe rack
  • Décor mirror
  • Walk-in top-hung closet
  • Reach-in closet
  • Freestanding closet
Garage and storage
  • Storing board
  • Accessory box
Laundry and cleaning
  • Worksurface
  • Storage track
Bedroom
  • Custom closets
  • Walk-in closets
  • Reach-in closets
  • Wardrobe closets
  • Kid’s closets
Garage storage
  • Garage storage box
  • Garage workbenches 
Workspace
  • Home office storage
  • Craft room
  • Library
Living area
  • Family room storage
  • Entertainment center
  • Playroom storage
  • Mudroom storage
More rooms
  • Small space storage
  • Murphy beds
  • Kitchen Pantry
  • Laundry room cabinets
  • Entryway
  • Wine Storage
  • Linen cabinets and hall closets
  • Commercial furniture and storage
Working process
  • Choose design
  • Personalized
  • Crafting  
  • Assortative
  • Design Consultation
  • Collaboration
  • Custom Crafted
  • Installation
  • Follow-up
Customization options Available Available
Inspiration from
  • Daniella Witte
  • Lokal 54
  • Hemtrender
  • Jessica Ballestero
Available showrooms 30 showrooms across the U.K. 120 showrooms across U.S., Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.
Franchise opportunities
  • Business Solutions
  • Sales support
  • Material check
  • Follow up
  • Operational support
  • The designer, installer, and production training
  • Media planning
  • Local and national advertisements
Sister brands
  • Rubbermaid
  • Closetmaid
  • CertaPro painters
  • Floor Coverings International
  • Paul Davis restoration
Design Consultation Paid consultation available 90-minute free consultation service
Installation  Needs installation service Provides installation service
Durability Good Excellent
Collaboration with other brands Container Store Martha Stewert
Sustainability
  • People positive
  • Planet Positive
  • Society positive
  • LEED projects
  • Eco-friendly materials
  • Print materials
Uses
  • Ventilated shelving
  • Décor fascia
  • Décor Shelves
  • Melamine solid shelves
  • Utility Shelves
  • Classic hanging drawers
  • Décor drawers
  • Bedroom closet
  • Bedroom
  • Garage
  • Living Area
  • Murphy bed
  • Workspace
  • Entertainment center
  • Wine bar
Maintenance Handy Handy
Certification
  • Commercial Grade certified
  • UN Global Impact
  • Forest Stewardship Council
  • California Air Resources Board
  • UL GREENGUARD
  • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Warranty 10 years warranty  Lifetime warranty
Cost
  • $15 to $50 for shelves 
  • $50 to $100 for drawers
  • $46 to $179 for clothing
  • $10 to $30 for Garage and storage
  • $10 to $72 for laundry and cleaning
  • $12 to $30 for hobby and home office
  • $4300 to $5000 for the whole closet
  • $3,000 to $7,500 for custom closets
  • $1200 to $2000 for rooms
  • $3000 for Garage
  • $2400 for Custom cabinet finishes
  • $50 to $1,080 for Closet organizations
  • $2,220 for Sliding closet doors
  • $1140 for Shelving and countertops
  • $250 to $700 for Doors and drawers

Differences Between Elfa and California Closets

Features 

Elfa Closet 3D planning tool
Elfa Closet 3D planning tool

Elfa has a resetting capacity for your old closet. You can redecorate your existing wardrobe or closet with Elfa’s designer collection. It has a 3D planning tool that can help you to create customized closets with your designs. And you can check out the visual representation of your wardrobe. 

Moreover, it provides comfort with impressive ventilation capacity. This closet includes massive storage and space system that makes room for your clothes, bags, shoes, and other accessories. Elfa adds 1.7 percent of its sales in the Container Store. 

Martha’s New Home Office System
Martha’s New Home Office System

California has organizers, dividers, trays, baskets, and adjustable bars. It helps to store all stuff in one place and organizes the accessories. They also include built-in light that enhances storage functions and a bright interior.

The brand has an Everstyle drawer system that makes your storage easier. Also, this brand collaborates with Martha Stewart designs that support you to customize your wardrobe better.

Product line 

These companies come up with different product lines. Elfa offers shelves, drawers, clothing garage & storage, laundry & cleaning, hobby & home office, and on-door storage.  On the other hand, California storage company provides custom closets, rooms, garages, cabinets, closet organizations, sliding closet doors, shelving & countertops, and doors & drawers. 

Material 

Frankly, Elfa uses epoxy-bonded steel body structure and hardware. The epoxy-bonded steel is made of robust epoxy adhesive and stainless steel. However, they manufactured shelves and drawers with solid wood.  

On the contrary, the California closet has been made of a laminated composite body structure. They use melamine to manufacture closet construction. Melamine wood is an eco-friendly and robust laminated material. The California closet includes hardware, shelf liner, wood, leather, and different metal door corners. 

Design 

Elfa comes up with various designs for different purposes. You can mix any of these designs with your personalization ideas—California closets walk-in, reach-in, storage, pantry, cabinet, and kids-teen closet system.

You will find designs for your residential and commercial purposes. If I compare both brands’ designs, I will go with California closets because it has more beautiful designs than Elfa. 

Working process 

California closet works in a 5-step process. It starts with a design consultation, collaboration, custom crafted, installation, and follow-up. In comparison, Elfa comes up with the working process of -choice design, personalized options, craft making, and assortation instructions. 

Installation

California Closet Installation
California Closet Installation

To be honest, these closets require professional installation because it is difficult to understand the organizer’s and drawer’s settlement. California closet comes up with their expert installation service. But for installing an Elfa closet, you must look for installers outside. 

Durability

Regarding durability, the California closet will be the winner because it has been made of environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. This closet will last more than 10 to 30 years. On the contrary, the Elfa closet provides average durability. Their wardrobe can last for 2 to 5 years. It depends on your usage process. 

Uses 

Elfa specializes in décor fascia, décor shelves, utility shelves, ventilated shelving, solid melamine shelves, hanging drawers, décor drawers, and walk-in closets. California closets present closets for bedrooms, garages, laundry, kitchen & pantry, home offices, wine bars, and even entertainment centers.

Warranty 

The Elfa closet provides 10 years warranty for material defects for residents and functional defects of the wheel, doors, and pull-out design. However, California closets provide a lifetime warranty. You can avail of their warranty service from their official website. 

Cost 

Elfa will cost $15 to $50 for shelves, $50 to $100 for drawers, $46 to $179 for clothing, $10 to $30 for Garage and storage, $10 to $72 for laundry and cleaning, $12 to $30 for hobby and home office, and $4300 to $5000 for the whole closet. 

California closets will charge $3,000 to $7,500 for custom closets, $1200 to $2000 for rooms, $3000 for Garage, $2400 for custom cabinet finishes. Also, you have to spend $50 to $1,080 for closet organizations, $2,220 for sliding closet doors, $1140 for shelving and countertops, and $250 to $700 for doors and drawers. This brand charge $400 – $500 as an additional cost for installation. Professional installation services take $700.

Similarities Between Elfa and California Closets

Customization options 

Two of them provide designed closets with customized drawers and racks. You can customize their designs or add your ideas to them. Moreover, you can consult their experts to make your personalized closet more precise. Elfa and California closet have massive customization options. 

Finishing type 

Elfa Closet Finishing type 
Elfa Closet Finishing type

These closets come up with the same finishing type. They have options for smooth and textured finishing capacity. These brands offer aesthetic, traditional, and transitional finishing that matches different home decorations.

Maintenance 

One of the essential tasks for expanding the closet’s lifespan is maintenance. Both closets are easy to maintain and declutter your clothes and accessories accordingly. Nevertheless, take some hangers to keep your closet more organized. You should clean your closet once a month.  

Customer complaints 

Elfa closet system 

  1. Some shelves are too small that things can fall off frequently, and ventilated shelves aren’t large enough to hold all types of accessories. 
  2. Loud metal noise while opening and closing the drawers and closet door.
  3. It doesn’t have an attractive outlook. 
  4. Hard to install. It is pretty troublesome to assemble all the shelves and drawers. 

California closet system 

  1. Installation issues. The installers can’t understand the instructions. 
  2. The color contrast doesn’t look good. 

Which One is Better: Elfa or California Closet?

At the end of analyzing Elfa vs California closet, I can say California closet is better than Elfa because it is made of robust and eco-friendly materials. Melamine particle boards have long-lasting ventilation capacity. These materials are easy to clean. Beyond that, they have professional installers and expert consultations. This brand has annual revenue of 9.5 million. Their versatile designs will make your room and office more attractive.

On the other hand, Elfa doesn’t have fewer designs and average longevity. It is pretty tough to settle the epoxy steel material. Also, it comes up with low-quality hardware. I love the California closet’s designs, materials, and high-quality storage functions. Thus, it can be a great choice for your residents and commercial sites.

You can also read: Jeld-Wen Vs Masonite Exterior Doors – A Comparative Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Elfa closets worth it?

Elfa closets are worth your money to customize the design according to your home décor. However, it won’t last longer than 5 years. But it is one of the contemporary closet options.

Who owns California closets?

FirstService Brands, Inc owns California closets. It comes up with several sister brands and franchises all over the world.

What material does California closet use?

It uses laminated composites, which are produced from recycled wood, making them environmentally friendly.

Do California closets use a particular board?

California Closets uses laminated composite boards of wood fibers. These fibers are recycled and meet the regulations for carbon emissions. This brand chooses melamine material to manufacture its products.

Is California closet an excellent place to work?

Around 64 percent of employees recommend California closet as an excellent workplace in a survey conducted by anonymous employees. In addition, employees rated California closets with a 3.6 out of 5 rating on the official website.

Can I design my own Elfa closet?

You can design the closet you want by simply choosing designs from their official site in the cart and creating a complete package.

How much does a poliform closet cost?

Poliform Closets make walk-in closets that cost around $900 per linear foot. Materials used are melamine laminate, oak wood, etc.

Filed Under: Home Improvement, Closets & Cabinets

About Miranda Jackson

My journey to becoming an interior designer was birthed when I was 12. It started as a hobby, but I turned it into a career path. I graduated in Interior décor from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Georgia. Along the line of my career, I dabbled in gardening. It has been three years since I started my garden in my backyard, and it has flourished immensely. As an award-winning interior décor and lover of the art of gardening, I deploy my skills and knowledge in creating insightful and useful comparison articles at Curiosity insight.

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